Research College to Receive 4 Million Euros in Funding from DFG

DFG Research College to Be Established at Otto Suhr Institute of Freie Universität – The Transformative Power of Europe

№ 209/2008 from Jul 02, 2008

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved four million euros in funding for the establishment of a research college at the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science of Freie Universität Berlin. Under the general theme of "The Transformative Power of Europe: The European Union and the Diffusion of Ideas," an interdisciplinary group of researchers headed by Professor Tanja A. Börzel and Professor Thomas Risse will study the strategies, structures, and mechanisms underlying the diffusion of ideas and creative potential through and by the European Union.

How does the spread of ideas affect political, social, and economic processes within the European Union – and what role does the EU play in promoting ideas outside its boundaries? The research college will take up its work at the start of the winter semester 2008/2009. Research will be conducted by scholars of Freie Universität from the disciplines of political science, sociology, history, law, and economics. At least ten doctoral students, postdocs, and visiting scholars will study the role of Europe as a promoter and recipient of ideas. The research college team will be headed by professors Dr. Tanja A. Börzel and Dr. Thomas Risse, both of the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science of Freie Universität Berlin.